{"id":847440,"date":"2026-08-08T01:52:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:52:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/847440\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:52:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:52:16","slug":"massive-loss-roosters-enforcer-weighs-in-on-panthers-injury-blow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/847440\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Massive loss\u2019: Roosters enforcer weighs in on Panthers\u2019 injury blow"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Christian<\/p>\n

August 8, 2026 \u2014 10:00am<\/p>\n

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Isaah Yeo has been described as the \u201cheartbeat\u201d of the Penrith Panthers by Spencer Leniu, who won premierships alongside the lock forward \u2013 but will now try to heap more misery on his old mates on Thursday night.<\/p>\n

What was shaping as one of the NRL games of the year \u2013 and a potential grand final preview \u2013 between the Panthers and Sydney Roosters at CommBank Stadium has lost a superstar in Yeo because of a suspected pectoral injury.<\/p>\n

\"IsaahIsaah Yeo could be out for the remainder of the season for the Panthers.NRL Imagery<\/p>\n

Yeo flew back to Sydney with his teammates on Saturday morning following the 28-12 loss to the Warriors at Go Media Stadium in Auckland where he lasted 33 minutes.<\/p>\n

The co-captain immediately winced in pain and grabbed at his right pec before he made his way from the field.<\/p>\n

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary confirmed after the game: \u201cIt doesn\u2019t look great.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 31-year-old is expected to undergo scans on Sunday, with the worst-case scenario to end Yeo\u2019s season \u2013 and more than likely his dreams of captaining Australia to a World Cup win on home soil.<\/p>\n

Leniu was saddened to hear the Yeo news when informed in the sheds after the Roosters\u2019 gritty 20-18 win over Canterbury on Friday night.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo way. That\u2019s a massive loss \u2013 he\u2019s the heartbeat of their team,\u201d Leniu said.<\/p>\n

\u201cKnowing Penrith, they\u2019re a world-class team, and they\u2019ll have that next-man-up mentality.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve done it the last couple of years, they fill those voids when it comes around, and it will be no different next week if he\u2019s out.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s the captain, and when a lot of experience like that goes off the field, you definitely notice it.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Penrith are a well-oiled machine. With that next-man-up mentality, if you get the tap on the shoulder, you\u2019ve got a duty to perform and wear the jersey with pride.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s been the Penrith Panthers the last few years. That\u2019s why they\u2019ve been such a great team.<\/p>\n

Another perspective\"His<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ll still be pushing for that premiership at the end of the season. Next week will be another day in the office.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Panthers won 40-4 against the Roosters in round three when Tom Jenkins raced in four tries. But the Roosters have won their past seven games, and are building momentum at the right time. They are also set to welcome back skipper James Tedesco from an ankle injury.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got a lot of confidence in this team, the boys inside the four walls have confidence in each other, it was a scrappy win [against the Dogs], but we got the win,\u201d Leniu said.<\/p>\n

Naufahu Whyte has been a standout for the Roosters, and in Leniu\u2019s opinion is on track to be crowned one of the Dally M props of the year.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a no-nonsense player, he comes into training, if you ask him how he\u2019s going, he\u2019ll tell you, \u2018same old, same old\u2019,\u201d Leniu said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s who he is. He goes about his business, he doesn\u2019t try to be anyone else but himself, and flourishes when he goes out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

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